Witt is a hit with Venus and Serena

Cracking the inner circle of the Williams family, tennis' most famous clan, is a notably difficult task, harder even than accurately guessing what sort of fashion statement Serena Williams - she of the on-court bodysuit - is going to make on any given day.

This is why David Witt, a former tour pro from Ponte Vedra Beach, hesitates a little when he's asked about becoming the sisters' permanent hitting partner, a true member of the Williams entourage. He knows that Venus Williams thanked him during her victory speech after winning Wimbledon last Saturday, then did it again at the annual champions ball the following night. He knows that he has been with the Williamses this week in Vermont as Venus prepares for the Fed Cup. He knows that everyone seems to be happy with his work so far.

He still doesn't want to overstate the situation.

"It's not easy getting close to them," Witt said. "We have a pretty good friendship going and are pretty comfortable. We've been talking about things down the road, and we'll see what happens."

Even casual tennis fans have the basics about the Williamses: sisters originally from Compton, Calif., they shook up women's tennis with the color of their skin (they're among the few African-Americans on tour) and their powerful groundstrokes.

Their father, Richard Williams, has a reputation as being strong-willed, intense, controlling and outspoken. He is the girls' coach. Always has been. He's also reportedly the one who holds a fence around his family, keeping outsiders from ever getting too close.

Witt has worked his way in over time. It started five years ago with a few hitting sessions at the Bausch & Lomb tournament at Amelia Island. The Williamses needed a local practice partner, and Witt, who was once ranked as high as 128th in the world, had the game to help them work.

"I did that every year, and then this year, they asked me to go to Charleston with them, which was the next week's tournament," Witt said.

So he did. Then it was off to the sisters' home base in West Palm Beach. Then the French Open.

Suddenly, Witt had this new job, a job that gave him part of his old life back. He practices with the girls, sometimes helping them prepare by hitting the shots their next opponent specializes in, sometimes just working a part of their game that Richard wants them to hone.

Witt likes it because he likes being part of a team, but also because it gives him a taste of what he had always imagined. Back in his playing days, he dreamed about winning Wimbledon and putting on a tuxedo and going to the annual dinner. This year, his fitting with the Wimbledon tailor finally came. He went as part of Venus' group, and it was magical.

"Not anybody can just go to that," Witt said. "It's a very exclusive party."

He gets to go now because he's with the biggest names in women's tennis. It feels good, Witt says, and while he misses his teaching job at Deerwood Country Club, he also wouldn't mind staying on the road a little while longer.

Witt's relationship with the Williamses improves, day by day, and for the two weeks at Wimbledon, he even shared an apartment with Richard. The night before the final, they sat up talking strategy.

It was a little cramped but cozy, Witt said, and don't worry: it had two bathrooms. They're not that close.